ATLANTA -- Voters in two cities and six counties in Metro Atlanta will decide Tuesday whether to renew a one-cent sales tax for school construction.

The education SPLOST is a one-cent special purpose local option sales tax that was first approved by voters in Atlanta, Decatur and Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Cherokee, Douglas and Henry counties in 1997.

On Tuesday, Nov. 8, voters will be asked to continue that tax with SPLOST IV.

In DeKalb County, the renewal of ESPLOST would generate $475 million for dozens of capital projects, including new buildings, new roofs, air-conditioning systems, even smart boards in every classroom.

(Atlanta) Through a resolution authored by Fulton County Chairman John Eaves and Commissioner Liz Hausmann, the Fulton County Board of Commissioners voted today in their recess meeting to support the E-SPLOST referendum for Fulton and Atlanta Public Schools.

The School systems have called for a referendum for citizens to consider the continuation of a Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST IV). SPLOST has funded capital needs in the Fulton County School System since 1997. Previous SPLOST programs have funded 37 new schools, 28 school additions and multiple projects such as roof replacement, HVAC renovations, floor covering replacements, surveillance camera installations and playfield enhancements.

ATLANTA -- A debate over retail sales of alcohol on Sundays erupted during Monday's Atlanta City Council meeting.

The council voted Sept. 6 to put local-option legislation passed by the General Assembly on the November election ballot. If Atlanta residents vote yes, supermarkets, convenience stores and liquor stores would be allowed to sell beer, wine and liquor on Sundays.

At the time, council members believed the referendum could be put on the ballot at little or no cost to the city because there was going to be an election anyway.

But since then, the Fulton County Board of Registration and Elections has informed the city that its services in conducting the referendum won't be free.

Monday's debate was the second such incident in three weeks.

The council voted 9-1 to pay the county up to $17,050 for the Sunday sales vote, but not before Councilman C.T.

ATLANTA -- Seven people have been appointed to a newly created board to look into complaints about state and local officials failing to comply with state laws related to immigration.

The Immigration Enforcement Review Board was created by the state's tough new law targeting illegal immigration.

Appointed by Gov. Nathan Deal are Americans for Immigration Control spokesman Phil Kent, former Fulton County GOP chairman Shawn Hanley and lawyer Ben Vinson. Appointed by Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle are Dallas Mayor Boyd Austin and Coweta County Sheriff Mike Yeager. Appointed by House Speaker David Ralston are lawyer Robert Mumford and Colquitt County Commissioner Terry Clark.

The board will have the power to investigate complaints, hold hearings, subpoena documents and witnesses, and take disciplinary action.